Today's TV races

Romping Home can get National week off to a flier for in-form McCain

Donald McCain is nervously counting the days to next Saturday's Grand National with the favourite, Cloudy Lane, but he must be reassured by his string's good form. He won with his only runner at Newbury yesterday, and can follow up with Romping Home in today's Byrne Bros Mares Hurdle Final at the same track.

Once with Nicky Henderson, for whom she was a promising fifth in a hot bumper race here last season, Romping Home (3.25) has taken time to find her form over hurdles for McCain but she came good last out at Bangor, trotting up by 12 lengths.

More improvement is required in this £50,000 event, but Romping Home gets in off a handy weight with the help of jockey Paul Benson's 7lb claim. She looks held by Castlecrossings on their form at Chepstow, but Romping Home was not at her best on the heavy ground that day.

Kempton 2.05 See tip of the day, below.

Newbury 2.20 A well-beaten third on his last visit here in November, Elvis Returns is a better horse in the spring. He showed he was on the way back when chasing home Comply Or Die in the Eider Chase at Newcastle, and a 3lb rise in his mark looks fair as he finished clear of the remainder, headed by Rimsky. This is nine furlongs shorter than the Eider, but the emphasis will be on stamina.

Kempton 2.40 Richard Hannon can look forward to winning sprint handicaps with Chartist, who showed good speed to score at Nottingham last October. The booking of top apprentice William Buick suggests a bold showing is expected.

Newbury 2.55 Second behind Karello Bay in the mares hurdle final on this card last year, Miss Mitch can confirm the promise of her 12 lengths debut win over fences at Wincanton. She needed a confidence-restorer after unseating at the same course next time, and got it when fourth behind Mister Quasimodo at Kempton.

Kempton 3.10 Eased in the Winter Derby at Lingfield after he failed to get a clear run, Philatelist is worth another chance back in a handicap. He had won readily on comeback at Lingfield, despite hanging right, and will be suited right-handed.

Doncaster 3.35 It is possible that Furmigadelagiusta, who has been hurdling, could make his fitness tell but he faces a stiff task against Soapy Danger, who would be conceding 17lb in a handicap. A length behind Munsef when they chased home Galactic Star at Newmarket last autumn, Soapy Danger meets the Dunlop runner on 4lb better terms.

Kempton 3.45 Diamond Tycoon looked a potential champion at Newbury before meeting with a setback, but he has to prove himself over the trip and on Polytrack. Great Hawk, who ran as though just needing the outing when third in the Winter Derby, will be no pushover.

Lee unfit for Aintree

Graham Lee, who fractured his jaw in several places at Huntingdon last month, has ruled himself out of the Grand National meeting. Lee, who won the National in 2004 on Amberleigh House, said yesterday: "If I rushed I could get to Aintree, but I wouldn't be 100%. It's going to kill me that I'm missing it. Hopefully I'll be back in 10 days to two weeks."

Michael Jarvis's filly starts off in a handicap from what could prove to be a lenient mark of 78. There is good reason to believe she will be a decent three-year-old as she is a full sister to Notability, who proved very smart for Jarvis and, later on, Godolphin. Elysee Palace clocked a good time when comfortably winning a seven-furlongs maiden at Lingfield on only her second start.